Device for applying tire chains



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.y 24 J. F. HERRING DEVICE FOR APPLYING TIRE CHAINS Filed July 14 1926 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 z r Il rl U l I n I l l l I I t l L Il May 24, 1927. l

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J.. F. HERRING f DEVICE FOR APPLYING TIRE CHAINS Filed July 14 1926 '7 SheetsfSheet 4 1,630,006 'M-y 24 1927' J. F. HERRING DEVICE FOR AXPLYING TIRE CHAINS l Filed July 14 1926 .7 Sheets-Sheet 5 fll'lo: nu,

May 24.1927. 1,630,006 J. F. HERRING DEVICE FOR APPLYING TIRE CHAINS Filed July 14 1926 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 anomalo@ attenua,

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Patented May 24, 1927.

--UN1TED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB F. 'HERRINGQ OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA, ASSYIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM i SPECTOR, OF STAUNTON, VIRGINIA.- u

DEVICE FOR APIIYING TIRE C'HAINLS.

Application fiied July 14, 1326. I seriai No. 122,407.

This invention relates to devices for applying anti-skid chains tothe wheels of auto vehicles, and it has for its principal object y the provision of means for automatically applying the chain to the tire and securing the ends thereof together wit-hout the necessity of touchingthe chain with the hands or ot raising the wheels on jacks.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide meansoperable at will, preferably from the drivers couipartment,y for presenting the chain to the tire, and wheel actuated'ine'ans for disposing the chain circumferentially about the tire and locking the ends of the chain together. y f

` @their objects oit the invention relateto the several inventive principles physically employed inthe structural organization of the following practical embodiment of the invention.` q y i In the drawings in whiclisimilar yreference characters are used ,to denote identical parts, Figure 1 is a plan View of a portion of the chassis of an auto vehicle showing theV casings in which my novel device for applying anti-skid chains, and theV chains themselves are housed, showing also the operating mechanism. y K

Figure 2 is a side elevation, part being in section and part being omitted, of the chassis shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view on an enlarged sealeof one of the casiiigs.`

y Figure 4; isa sidevelevation partly in section of the casing shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the carriage wliichpresents the chain to Vthe tire. v

Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in section ot the* same.

Figure 7 is alside elevatioii,`partly in section, of the end of one side of the carriage showing the latch for'tlie gripping niagazine.` Y v Figure 8 is a vertical section through the gripping magazine, andthe end of the coupling yoke. Y

Figure 9 an end elevation of theV gripping magazine. y

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the same. Figure 11 is a perspective View of the release actuator. i

Figures '12, 13, 14 and 15 are respectively top plan, 'side elevation, bottom plan, and end views of the OiWll'Cl chain hook,

hook-holder.

'relation to the wheel.

Figure 16 is a perspectivey View `ofthe tire-.engaging trigger. y

Figures 1( and 18 are respectivelyside ele- `vation and plan views-oit the rear liookeliolding yoke, the rear chain hooks being shown in position.

Figure 19 is anend View of one of the vends of the rear hook-holding yoke.

Figure 2O is aside elevation on anenlarged scale showing one )aw of the rear Figure 21 is a planvview of a 'portion of said jaw showing the lower hook-engaging of the ,chassisv and rear Wheel of the auto vehicleshowing, Ain dotted lines tlieposition of the presenting carriage .inoperative Figure 23 is a similar. 'View showing the 'forward and rear chain hooks about to interlockf Figure 24: is an enlargedside elevation 'showingthe `forward and rear chain hooks interlocked. f 1

Figures 25 and 2G are respectively eiid kand side elevations of the rear. chain hook.

`Figure 27 is a cross section taken along Vthe line 27%-27 of Figure 3.

Figure 28 is a perspective view showing one of the resilient plates forming a chain bed.

'Figure 29 is a section taken along the line 294-29 of Figure 8.

Figurel 30 is a section taken along the line 30-30 of Figure 8.v

Figure 31 is a'section taken along the line 31-31 of Figure 8.

Figure32 is a plan view ot the connecting yoke for the gripping magazines showing a portion otone of said magazines in operative 'position relative to a tire.

Figure 33 is a plan view ofthe spur shown in Figure 30.

y Referring now in vdetail to the Yseveral figures, the numeral 1 represents the chassis `freine of an-auto vehicle, having the rear driving wheels 2.. The present device is designed to be arranged in a casing 3 beneath the running-boards, and with this'end vin view the casing is suitably secured in Civ and G forming side members of the casing Transverse rods and 8 are slidably arranged in suitable apertures in the angle irons 5 and 6 from which rods the lower member 9 of the casi-ng' depends, being slidable outwardly with said rods beyond the edges of the running-boards so as to give convenient access to the inside of the casing. The rods are preferably provided with holes 10 for the reception of cotterpins or other similar means to prevent the rods being drawn out too far when the easing is opened. The rearward ends of the casing open toward the rear wheels and are provided with doors 11 and 12 maintained normally shut by springs 13 but swingable to ari open position in both directions.

lVithin the casing. close to the plane of the top thereof a pair of `guide channels 15 andlG are secured. Said channels act as track-ways for a carriage presently to be described. In some instance the guide channels may extend parallel to the sides of the casing, but in the present illustrative embodiment of the invention, the same is shown as applied to a popular make of light car in which the rear Wheels are not in the median longitudinal line of the running-boards, and therefore the guide channels 15 and 16 are laterally inclined toward the rear wheels so that each chain will be presented by its carriage evenly on both sides of the tire. The carriage consists of a pair of parallel side members 17 and 18 connected by a cross member 19. VThe longitudinal side members slide in the channelled guideway, being impelled4 in a direction Vtoward the tire by a eve-r 2O connected by means of ay pin and slot connection to the cross member 19 and oper-- ated by aV cable 21 leading to a hand-control 22 within easy reach of the driver of the auto vehicle. Since there are two carriages. one for each casing. a-nd two levers 20, the cable 21 is ln'anched. a branch leading to each of said' levers. one of said branches passing around suitable pulleys 23 and 2st. so that the. levers are pulled equally in the same direction by manipulation of the hand* control. When the hand-control is released. the levers 20, together with the carriages are returned to initial position of repose through the instrumentality of springs 25 cooperatively associated with said levers.

The forward ends ofthe side members 17 and 18 of each carriage are provided with latches26 and 27 designed to releasably hold members vhereinafter designatedv as gripping magazines and soon to be described. Each of the latches consists of a casing 28 having a fixed jaw 29 and a movable jaw 30, the latter being. normally urged` toward the jaw 29vbymea'ns of a springl 31 preferably coneealed within lsaid cas-ing and co.actingT between a fixed pin von said casing and a portion of the jaw 30. The carriage is provided with a hinged trigger plate 32 to which are fastened cables 33 and 34, the opposite ends of said cables being secured to the movable jaws 30. When the carriage is advanced to a positionrin which the trigger makes contact with the tire. the trigger plate is turned downwardly by the movement of the wheel, pulling on the cables 33 and 34 and moving thejaws-lll upwardly so as to release whatever is held between 'the fixed and movable jaws.

The .gripping magazines 35, of which there are two for each carriage one on each side, are each provided on its outer side with a recess 36 having overhanging flanges 3T and 38 at the top and bottoni forming channels which taper in a vertical plane toward the forward end of the magazine. The central portion of the recess may be formed with a.Y dovetailed plateau 39 oppositely tapered. The recesses 36 are designed to receive and hold the forward chain hooks 40 one of which hooks is shown in the several views .embraced in Figures 12 to 15 inclusive. Each hook has a flat face adapted to co-act with the walls of the recess 36. Said face being formed with flanges 37 and 38 which fit in the channels formed by the flanges 37 and 38 on the magazine, and with a recess which corresponds in shape with the plateau 39 and is designed to receive the same. Then the forward chain hook is slippe'dinto the recess 3G from the rear open end thereof, it wedges in said recess due to the tapered walls thereof becoming fixed therein, the tapered walls also acting to limit the distance to which said hook may be moved in a forward direction relatively to the gripping magazine in assembling the device. y

The forward chain hooks are each providedy with a springactuated l'ilunger fl-l which automatically slips into a rel-ess l2 formed in. the lower wall of the recess 3V. when the chain, bool: is slipped into place. The chain hook is provided with an c ve lil for theattaehment of the anti-skid chain. The chain hooks are also provided externally with flanges 126 and 127 for engagement by the jaws 29 and 30, by which means the gripping magazines are held by the carriage. Other features of the chain hooks will be described later when it comes time lo describe the rear of the chain hooks with which the forward chain hooks tinall'v eooperate.

The gripping magazines are coupled together bymeans of a yoke l having bifurcated ends -lformed with elongated aligned apertures 46. The gripping magazines are each provided with rearwardly extended lugs -Z' apertured to receive a bolt 4.8, the latter extending through the elongated apertures 461/' The shape of the apertures 1G theshock absorbing spring 49 which is located between the back of the bifurcated portion of the yoke and the gripping maga@ zine. y f

A spring surrounds the bolt 48, said spring being housed a counterbore` 51 in vthe lug 47 and re-acting between the yoke and gripping magazine, tending to bias the gripping magazine `normally inwardly t0- ward the tire of the auto vehicle. The gripping .magazines are, however, normally maintained away vfrom the tire against the tension of the springs 5() by means of plungers 52 urged outwardly byv springs 53 against abutments 54 formed in the ends of the yoke. `The plungers52 are each connected by means of a cable` 55 or other suitableiiexible means to a pin 56, Fig. 8, carried transversely of a cylinder 57, the function Vof which is to rise by expansion'of an enclosed spring 58 when certain release' mech anism soon to be described is actuated.`

p Vhen the cylinder goes up, the cablev 55 is Lio pulled, withdrawing the plunger 52 against the tension of the spring 53 vaway from the abutment 54 permitting the gripping magazines to'move inwardly toward the tire under the urge of the springs 50.

Y The ygripping magazines are provided with bores 59 extending transversely therethrough in' which are housedthe -tire triggers 60. Each of these triggersy consists preferably ofl a flat member the nose 61 of which is adapted to be protruded through a slot 62 forming theinner terminus of the bore 59. A spring 62 is positioned within the cylindrical part of said bore and its function is to cause the protrusion of the trigger plater when the latter is released.

One end. of the spring abuts against iixed means such asthe closing plug 162 in the end of the bore 59. The tension of the springr may be adjusted by hooking the spring selectively in any one of the notches 160 with which the triggers are provided. The trigger plate is connected by` means ot a cable 63 or the like to release actuating Vmechanism denoted in general by the reference character 64and housed in a recess 65 p inthe gripping magazine.

n mechanism. f

The release actuating mechanism consists of a frame 66bent to form an intermediate loop 67 and angularly bent ends 68 and 69.

A pin 167 intersects the recess 65 `passing through the loop 67 and being anchored in the body of the gripping magazine. Said pin holds the release actuating mechanism against displacement. The sides of the loops 67 are slotted and acam bolt 70 passes through the slots. yA spring 71 normally holds the cam bolt in retracted position,

but it is pulled into activeV position in the opposite direction against the tension of'r said spring by means of the same cable 63 which is attached to the tire trigger. Uien the trigger engages a tire it is retracted as hereinbefore described pulling on the cable 63 and in return projecting the cam bolt 70. It will be understood that there' are a pair yof tire triggers one projecting toward and into the path of the tire from each side of the chain applying device as the latter is presented to the tire by the forward movement of the carriage. The, tire is of larger cross section thantlie so w width of the rim and extends beyond the well or depression 72 in `its top having ay counterbore 73 in its bottom wall communil cating with the recess 65. l The lower end of an arm 74 is reciprocable in said counterbore,

,the upper end 75 of said arm being bent around the pin 56 so as irremovably to engagev the same'. Said arm therefore is sub- )ect to the vertical reciprocatory movement of the cylinder 57 under the contraction and expansion of the Spring 58. A catch 76` is l` fixedly positioned within the counterbore 73 and so operatively related to the lower end of said'catch as to engage an upwardly fac- 74. Normally, that isto say when the chain applyingdevice is set or in inoperative positiony the shoulder 77 is below the catch. vThis position of parts is .assumed by the operator pressing upon thetop of the cylinder 57 and depressing the spring 58 permitting ythe descent of the arm 74. The latter is held in set position by the catch, through a spring 78 iixed to said catch and engaging the wall of said counterbore in a path of the shoulder 77. The cam bolt 70 is adapted when advanced to immerge itself` between the catch and arm 74, forcing the `catch away from the shoulder 77 against theV resistance of the spring 78 until the shoulder slips by the catch permitting the rise ofthe arm 74 and the cylinder 57 under the urge of the spring 58. The upward movement of said cylinder and spring is limited by means of a yoke 79 secured in any suitable manner to the top of the cylinder and aniio `way to normally maintain the catch in the other direction.

lis to operate Ameans for gripping the rim eliored to the floor of Athe recess 72 by cables .01 other means ofzsiiitable length.

The ultimate function of the spiing 58v ,of Ithe Kwheel and in :order that this grip shall belgiirin in character the spring 58 has consi derable strength.

4in. the body of said magazine, intothe path of the rim. The rearward end of said spur is formed .withiaT-shaped slot S3 engaging a. correspondingly shaped track 8i on a wedge shaped cross-,head `the latter in turn .sliding in a track 86 which is inclined tothe direction of movement of the spur 82. The .rearward end of said spin' is formed on the outside with guides 83sliding inV traiis ieise groovesin the body oftlie gripping magazine. For convenience in ,assembling the spur and .cross-head, that part of the gripping magazine which carries the inclined track and houses thespur and crossliead is made as a separate part of said magazine and attached thereto in any suitable maniier. The cross-head 85 is made to reciprocate vertically, thereby forcing ,the spur ,82 in or out,L as the case may be,

said cross-head being movable with the pin 56 in one direction, ,and returnable by thel spring 185 shown in AFigure 30, in the llfn order Ito iavoid communicating ythe shock of the Iimpact of the spurs 82 with the rigid rim yof the lwilieelto the other mechanism within the gripping magazine, the connection between the cross-liead and pin 56 islmade indirect through the `following shock absorbing mechanism. A link 8,7 is provided swingableat its upper end about the pin 456 and having a bar S8 at its lowei' end movable in a vertical direction between vthe spaced front and back sides '89: and .90 of a frame carrying the shock absorbing mechanism. -This mechanism coiisistsofal pawl 91 having a pin and slot .connection with the frame,

vindicated by the reference numeral 92, the

noseof said pawl 4projecting beyond said frame'and through a-recess 93 in one side ott-he link 87. The endof said vpawl yopposite the nose thereof is pivotally connected to a, socket 94, ,but free from the frame, said socket carries a piece of india rubber 9,5 oi' its ,equivalent capable ofyieldiiigly bearing .against ia side ofsaid frame. Vhen the spring 58 is releasedzby tlieupwaid move- `ment-of the cani bolt 70, the 4pin 56 is Vforcibly raised, lifting the'link 87 so that the lower wall of the recess 93 comes into contact with thenose of the pawl 91, raising the latter, shifting it about the pivot 92 and bringingV .therubber cushion 95 into yielding engagement with theframe. At this pointthe ino- .tion of the link 8,7 istaken up by the frame,

the lower portion Iofmwhich is suitably connected as by a cable 9610 the cross-head, liftingthe lattei,and through the wedge- `like action of `the cross-heads imparting a powerful outward thrustto the spurs 82, driving them into lirin contact with the rim of the wheel, so that in this manner the yoke -l-5 and gripping magazines 35 become irinly attached to the wheel ,and rotate therewith. It is to be understood that the foremost link ofthe tire chain on each side is permanently secured tlirougliilie eyesll to the forward chain hooks 40.

IThe chaiiislie housed within the casiiigs 3 and itis quite .essential that they be arranged ,inv such orderly fashion that they will issue from the easing smoothly and iii propercondition to. drape themselves about. the tire as ,the wheel rotates. -Since the circumference of tliewheels and therefore the length of the chains is greater Vthan the length of the casings, the chains are arranged in undulating fashion within the casing. To accomplish this purpose a pluijality of resilientl `arched plates 97 `are ar- -rangedinseries along the bottom of the casingthe ends of the adjacent archedfmembers overlapping and being freely secured tothe bottom -otthe easing by means such asv the rivets 98 passing through the overlapping slots 98. Normally, the resiliency of the arched members is such as to cause them to maintain a `wave-like form, eii'ectively increasing `the length of the bottom of the casingy so that the chain may be stowed in. said casing at full length. W'hen, however, tlie gripping magazines become attached to thewheel-the chains are dragged ,out of thecasing with a progressively increasing tension as the chains become taut,

causing the resilient arched members 9T progressively to flatten, until linally they lie substantially flat opposing no obstruction io the vwithdrawal of the chains. The forward part of the chain preferably passes over an anti-friction roller 99, and the bottom of the casing forwardly of said roller is preferably 'formed -with downwardly opening spring doors 100 which incline downwardly under the weight of the chain las the latter is pulled by the rotation of the wheel, toward the underneath part of the wheel.

Rear chain hooks 101 and 102 are carried by the final links of the anti-skid chains, on each side, and-wliile the chains are in the casing said rear chain hooks -liook holder yand normally retained in gripping engagement by said jaws. vThe rear tending parallel sides.

v 110 of the hook-holder.

\ hook-holding yoke comprises in the present instance an inverted V-shaped channelledmember having forwardly eX- l y j The forward ends of the `hook-holding yoke incline upwardly as shown at 111` to house the upper jaw j rlhe lower jaw 109 is formed as part `of the hook-holding yoke and projects rectilinearly inthe plane of the main part of said yoke. The upper jaws are formed at the end of a U-shaped member 112 and are fulcrumed in lugs 113 formed on the `lower jaws. rIhe springs 11dn within the inclined aartsof the hookholding yoke are attaci ed to the upper jawson the'sides of the fulcra opposite to the gripping ends of said jaws, holding the upper :jaws lnormally resiliently in closed relationto the lower jaws, firmly gripping the heads106 of the rear chain hooks. The upper jaws 'are provided also with extensions 112 Vwhich extend forwardly at the sides ofthe reary chain hooks, supporting -ithcfsame in upright position,

' Ythe ends of `the extensions. 112 projecting into recesses 115 formed in the outer sides of the rear chain hooks. vThe .U-shaped member 112 is provided with a tire-engaging plate 116, and with a safety catch 117 consisting of a bolt 118 having a forwardly. directedy end 119 projecting within the hookedV end of a latch 120. lVhen the antiskid chain is drawn from the casing by rotation of the wheel the'rear hook-holding yoke is pulled out, the sides thereof straddling the tire until the tire finally comes into contactA with the safetyv catch 118 pushing the latter. back against the tension of the catch spring 121 and releasing the end 119 of. said catch from-the hooked latch 120, leaving the U-shaped member 112 free to be tilted when pressure is'brought upon the plate v116. Further movement of the rear hook-holding yoke toward the wheel brings said plate into contact with the-wheel, the motion ofthe latter being downwardly so that the plate is'depressed rocking the U-'shaped member 112 upon the fulcra in the lugs 113 and opening the upper jaws `against the'tension `of the springs 114. This also withdraws the extension 1112 from the recess 115 in the rear chain hooks.l lt will be observed from Figure 23 that when this release movement vof the upper jaw occurs the rear hook-holding yoke will have been pulledy lentirely out of the casing to aposition in which the rear chain hooks lie in contact with the` forward chain hooks and about to cooperate therewith, so that thelateral guidance afforded by the extensions 112 is no longer needed. It is also to be noted that on account of the direction of movement` of the "rear wheels during the tire chain applying operation, the rear hookinterengaged,

holding yoke will be inclined downwardly so that the lower shoulders 108 of the heads 106 will automatically slide from the grippingv ends of the lower jaws,y the rear tire hooks being j' thus v'completely disengaged from the hook-holders. The rear hookholding yoke is yfastened to cables 122 which in turn are secured to spiral springs 123 anchored at their .forwardends in the front end of the casing 3. Immediately upon the release ofthe rear tire hooks, the rear hook-holding yoke willbe pulled into the casing through the contraction of the springs 123. v K

Therear chain hooks are each formed on that side which comes adjacent the forward chain hooks when the parts assume the position shown in Figures 23 and 24, with flanges 124 and 125 co-actingwith the fianges 126 and 127 on the forward chain hooks which have been previously described as atl'ording means by which the forward chain hooks are held inthe latches of the presenting carriage. The rear v chain hooks are also provided with a stop 128 co-acting with a j correspondingly shaped ledge 129 formed on `the forward chainhooks, limiting the movement of one hook upon the vother when said hooks become interengaged. lVhen the chain has completely surrounded the tire, vand vthe forward and rear-hooks have come to the relative position shown in Figure 23, the

flanges 124Land 125 on` the rear chain hooks begin `to slide in the channels formed .by the flanges 126 and 127 on the forward chain hooks, and this engaging movement continues until the co-acting hooks are fully at which time ay spring pressed detent 130 carried by each of the rear chain hooks slips into one of the recesses 131 on the bottom of the `forward chain hook latching the parts against accidental displacement.

The presentations of the'tire chains to the wheels by the carriages and gripping magazines may be done while the auto vehicle is stationary or in motion, but it isjobvious that the application, of the chains circumferentially to the wheels is accomplished by the rotation of said wheels, carrying thc gripping magazines through one revolution of the wheels back to the point at which they first become engaged with the rims, at which point the rear hook-holding yoke becomes released and thehooks become interengaged and latched together. Theanti-skd chains are now secured in position upon the wheels by means of the hooks which are a permanent part of the chains. The yokes l5 and the gripping niagazines are-still attached to the chains, and it is ofcourse undesirable that they should be subjected to the buffetings incident to the-travel ofthe vehicle, so that the latter is brought to a standstill and llO the yokes and gripping magazines associated therewith are removed in the following manner. The 'forward chain hooks,l it will be recalled are latched to the gripping magazines by means of the plunger 41. By withdrawing this plunger,v each gripping magazine `may be detached from its yoke by sliding the iianges 37 .and 38 relative to the flanges 37 and 38 in an endwise direction. 'When the magazines are released, each pair. with the associated yoke may then be manipulated so as to .draw it out frorn'behind the chain. the latter when onthe wheel being sufficiently slack to permit this withdrawal.

lVhile the chains are on the wheels the yokes 45 and gripping magazines may be conveniently stowed away within the rearwardA parts of the casings 3, doors 132 being provided for this purpose.

When it is desired-torremovethe chains from the wheels, it'is done by withdrawing the detent 130thereby disconnecting the forward and rearward chain hooks. The slidable compartments of the casing are then pulled out the rear chain hooksproperly positioned withinthe rear hook holders, the chains laid'smoothly alongthe undulating iioor of the casings. the forward` chain hooks secured in place upon the gripping magazines. andthe latter together with the connecting yokes 45^placed in posit-ion between the jaws 29 and 30 of the latches of the carriage; The slidable compartments are then closed and the chain applying apparatus is again ready for action. 1

`Having described my invention `what 'I claim as new-and desire to secure -by'Letters Patent is l. In a skid chain applying device. wheel- `gripping means-carrying one end of a skid chain, means operable at will for presenting` said wheel-gripping means operatively to a wheel, and tire-actuated meansifor initiating the gripping action-of Said ywheel-gripping means.

2. In -a skid chain applying device a yoke. wheel-gripping means carried by said yyoke and adapted cooperablyto grip a wheel from opposite sides, a skid chain carried rat one end by said wheel-gripping means. means operable at lwillfor presenting .said `wheelgripping means'operatively to a` wheel, and tire-actuated means lfor initiating the gripping action of said wheel grippingmeans.

In a skid chain applying device,l a yoke, wheel-grippingmeans carried by saidyoke and adapted cooperably to grip a-wheel from opposite sides, said-wheel-gripping means including spurs projectable intoengagement with the wheel.v ay skid chainlheld at one end of saidwheel-grlipping means. meansoperable at will for presenting said wheel-gripping means operatively to 'the wheel. and

tire-actuated means for initiating lthe gripping action of said wheel-gripl'iing means.

4. In a skid chain applying device, a yoke.I wheel-gripping means carried by said yoke and adapted cooperably to grip a wheel from opposite sides, said wheel-gripping means including normally retracted spurs projectable into engagement with the wheel, means for biasingI said wheel-gripping means toward said wheel, means for normally maintaining said wheel-gripping means away from said wheel against the `tension of said biasing means, a skid chain held at one end by said wheel-gripping means. means operable at will Ifor presentingr said wheel-gripping means operativelyf'to the wheel, and ytire-actuated lmeans for sin'iultaneously releasing the -means that inhibits the action of said biasing means and positivey'projecting said spurs into engagement with said wheel.

5. ln a skid chain applying device a yoke. wheelgripping means carried by said yoke and adapted cooperably to grip a wheel from opposite sides, a skid chain carried atene end by said wheel gripping means, means operable at will for presenting wheel-gripping means operatively to a wheel, first tire actuated'n'ieans for initiatingthe gripping action of said wheel-gripping means and second-tire actuated sectionsioperating sequentially of-saidriirst tireactuat-ing means 'for releasing said wheel-gripping means from said presenting means.

6. =In a skid chain applying. device a yoke, wheel-gripping meanscarried by said yoke and adapted cooperably to grip a wheel from opposite sides,a skid chain, forward and rearward hooks attached to-said skid chain. said forward hooks being carried by said wheel-'gripping means, means operable at will for presenting said wheel-gripping means operatively to the wheel, and tire actuated means forintiating the gripping aetionvof said meel-gripping means. said rearward and forward ,hooks interlocking upon completion of one revolution of said wheelgripping means with said wheel.

7. In a skid chain applying device a yoke. wheel-gripping means carried-by said yoke, and adapted cooperably to grip a wheel from opposite sides, a skid chain, forward and rearward hooksattached to said skid chain. said forward'hooks being carried by said wheel-gripping means, means operable at will lfor presenting said wheel-gripping means operatively to a wheel,tire-actuated means forinitiating the gripping action of said wheel-gripping means. means detachably holding the rearward chain hooks. yieldably vresisting the paying out of said chain upon said wheel by rotation thereof. said forward and rearward hooks interlocking upon completion of -onerevolution of said wheel-grippingmeans with said wheel,

Cil

lli() said rearward-hook holding means being constructedto release said rearward'hooks Y through pull of said skid chainv immediately uponr completion of said interlocking act of said. forward and rearward hooks'with said wheel.

8V. In a skid chain applying device, a yoke,v

including normally retracted spurs projectable into engagement with the wheel, means for biasing said wheel-grippingmeans toward said wheel, means co-acting with said yoke for normally maintaining said wheelgripping means away from said wheel against the tension of said biasing means, a skid chain, forward and rearward hooks attached to said skid chain, said forward hooks' being carried by said wheel gripping means, means operable at will for presenting said wheel-gripping means operatively to y the wheel, first tire-actuated means for simultaneously releasing the means that inhibits the action of said biasing means, and positively projecting said spurs into engagement with said wheel, second tire actuated means operative sequentially of said first. tire actuated means for releasing said wheelgripping means from said presenting means, means detachably holding the rearward chain hooks, yieldably resisting the paying out of said chain upon said wheel through rotation thereof, said forward and rearward hooks interlocking upon completion .of one revolution of said wheel-gripping means with said wheel, said rearward hook holding means being constructed to release said rearward hooks through pull of said skid chain immediately upon completion of the interlocking act of said forward and rearward hooks.

9. In a skid chain applying device, a yoke, wheel-gripping means carried by said yoke and adapted cooperably to grip a wheel 4from opposite sides, saidv wheel-gripping means including normally retracted spurs,

means for projecting d spurs into engagement with a wheel, a normally retracted spring for actuating said spur projecting means, means for biasing said wheel-gripping means toward said wheel, means for normally maintaining said wheel-gripping means away from said wheel against the tension of said biasing means, a skid chain held at one end by said wheel-gripping means, means operable at will for presenting said wheel-gripping means operatively to the wheel, and tire-actuated means for simultaneously releasing the means that inhibits the action of said biasing means, and releasing said spring to cause the operation of said spur-projecting means, to project said-spurs into engagement with said wheel.

10. In a skid chain applying device, a

yoke, wheel-gripping means carried by said yoke and adapted cooperably to grip a wheel from oppositev sides, said wheel-gripping means including normally retracted spurs, means for j' projecting said spurs into engageinentwith a wheel, a normally retracted spring for actuating said spur-projecting means, means for' biasing said wheel-gripping means toward said wheel, means for normally maintaining said wheel-gripping means away from said wheel against the ten- Y sion of said biasing means, askid chain held l at-one end by said. wheel-gripping means, means operable atwill for presenting said wheel-gripping means operatively to the wheel, and ,tire-actuated means for simulta-` neously releasing the means that inhibits the action of said biasing means, and releasing said spring to cause the operation of said spur-projecting means, to project said spurs into engagement with said wheel, said spurprojecting means. being constructed'to multiply the force transmitted by said spring. l1. In a skid chain applying device, a yoke, wheel-gripping means carried by said yoke and adapted cooperably to grip a wheel from opposite sides, said wheel-gripping means including normally retracted spurs, means for projecting said spurs into engagement with a wheel, a normally retracted spring' for actuating said spur-proj ecting means, means for biasing said wheelgripping means toward said wheel, means for normally maintaining said wheel-gripping ineans. away `from said wheel against the tension of said biasing means, a skid chain held at one end by said wheel-gripping means, means operable at will for presenting said wheel-gripping means operatively to the wheel, and tire-actuated means for simultaneously releasing the means that inhibits the action of said biasing means, and releasing said spring to cause the operation of said. spur-projecting means, to project' said spurs into engagement with aid wheel, and motion retarding means intercalated in the operative.connection between said spring and spur-projecting means.

l2. In a skid chain applying device, a

casing, flexible arched plates forming a floor within said casing increasing the effective length thereof, a carriage in the forward part of said casing movable toward a wheel, means for operating said carriage, wheelgripping means releasably held by said carriage, chain tensioning means anchored in lthe rearward part of said casing and eXtensible to a point outside of the forward end of said casing, and a skid chain in said casing spread along the floor formedby said arched plates having the forward and rearward ends thereof releasably held respectively by said wheel-gripping means and tensioning means, said ioor being constructed to collapse under the tension pressureof said lOO,

Chain when the latter is Vbeing Withdrawn from said easing :by said Wheebgripping means against the ltension of said Chaintensioning means.

13. In a skid chain applying device, a casing, flexible overlapping arched ,plates forming a floor for said casing increasing the eli'ective length thereof, pins securing said plates tothe bottom o'fsaid easing, said pins passing through registering slots insa-id plates,`said slots affording- -lost motion perinittingthe eollapseof said plates, a carriage in thel forward part of said easing movable toward a. wheel, means for operating Said -earriage, Wheel-gripping .means releasably held-by said carriage,v chain tensioning means anchored in the rearward `part of Said casing' and extensible to a point outside -of the forwardlend of said easing, and askid Chain insaid casing .spread along' the yfloor formed by saidarched plates having lthe 'forward and rearward ends thereof releasably held respectively by said wheel-gripping means andtensioning means, said lloor being; constructed to Collapse under ,the tension-pressure of saidehain when the latter is beingr withdrawn `from said easingbv said wheeln'rippingr means against the tension ot said chain tensioning' means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JACOB F. ,H ERRIG. 

